Apple Starts Blocking Unauthorized Lightning Cables With iOS 7

Apple’s walled-garden approach to mobile is legendary, and rarely was the company’s control over the entire iPhone/iPad, iOS, and apps ecosystem more evident than when it changed its proprietary 30-pin connector to the new Lightning interface and effectively punched an entire industry of iOS accessory makers (and customers who suddenly owned products incompatible with their new iPhones) in the neck.

Makers of iOS accessories have to go through Apple’s MFi program in order to ensure that their products are up to Apple’s rigorous standards, and in the case of Lightning connectors, ensure that Apple has given them authentication chips that go into each Lightning cable.

Credit: 9to5Mac

The certified Lightning cables, unfortunately, are kind of pricey. Some figured out how to reverse-engineer the chips and make cheap knockoffs, but now iOS 7 is blocking unauthorized cables. Previously, iOS 7 was warning users that an unauthorized cable was in use but didn’t block it--sort of a warning shot and a nudge to just buy an authorized cable already--but now the Cupertino company apparently means business.